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The charity delivering culture and leisure facilities across the Falkirk area has been given more than £13 million worth of support from Falkirk Council for the next financial year.

Falkirk Community Trust runs a range of attractions including the Helix Park between Falkirk and Grangemouth, Callendar House museum, local sport centres and key parks.

Falkirk Council agreed on Monday (January 12) to support the Trust's action plan for 2015/16, allocating it more than £12.6 million to help deliver its portfolio of services.

In addition, the Council backed £550,000 worth of capital projects to:

  • replace the wave machine at the Mariner Centre in Camelon;
  • refurbish the pool flumes at Grangemouth Sports Centre; and
  • to improve ICT infrastructure to improve customer service and provide online booking facilities.

The Council - which set up the charity in 2011 - has also increased the amount the Trust can borrow - from £200,000 to £1 million. This is expected to release extra investment in facilities to provide a better customer experience.

Councillors heard the money was allocated against a backdrop of cuts facing the Council. The local authority is expected to have to save around £40 million over the next three years to balance its budget.

A report to councillors said the Trust - "mindful of the financial constraints facing the Council" - had to make its own in-house savings, with declining levels of Council core grant on offer. The charity wants to compensate by increasing its customer base and generating extra income.

Plans for next year include modest rises in fees and charges, averaging around three per cent.

It also hopes to raise extra income through the opening of a new gym at Stenhousemuir in the summer and increasing donations.

The budget for library books - which has remained static despite recent funding constraints - will fall. The Trust will also close the Par 3 golf course at Callendar Park between October and March.

Council agreed that "bearing in mind the challenging financial environment over the years to come" it would look at setting up a policy development panel to review and develop its relationship with the Trust.

Falkirk Council's spokesperson for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Councillor Adrian Mahoney, said: "These are very difficult times for the Council and for the partners we fund, like the Community Trust. The Trust delivers a range of much-loved services across the district and our joint priority has been to keep these operating.

"The Trust's plan for the next year has been to minimise any cuts facing the charity by looking to grow income and expand its customer base.

"We're happy to support those aspirations by providing significant core funding for the year ahead.

"In addition, the capital investment in new equipment will lead to a far better customer experience and will make it far easier to process bookings for individuals and clubs who use the facilities provided."

He added: "We have reduced the amount Falkirk Community Trust has received this year but this is set in the context of the £40 million savings Falkirk Council has to find over the next three years."

Ian Scott, Chairman of Falkirk Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to hear that Falkirk Council have approved the business plan and budget for the coming financial year.

"The team at the Trust have ambitious plans for 2015/16 and will now be working hard to see these come to fruition. Of course we do live in difficult financial times but will do everything possible to protect the services enjoyed by the people of the district.  Public support is the key.  The best way to protect our sports, libraries, parks, arts and heritage activities is to use them to the maximum and I am confident that with that support we will meet the present financial challenges and continue to grow and prosper in the future.”